Unregistered, I think the easiest way to get the most bang for the buck is to buy something that increases your time on water (TOW). Lengthening your possible season has the best shot at increasing TOW. If your water or air gets cold enough, the most effective items to extend your season are (in effective order): a hood, wetsuit or drysuit, booties, gloves or mittens. How many times last year did you have sailable water, time and opportunity but didn't go because you didn't have good enough protection against the cold? Consider spending enough on better protection to convert about half of those opportunities to TOW.

I particularly mentioned a neoprene solution because where I live 8-15 mph is what we hope for in the summer. Our best chances for 15-25 are in the spring and fall when TOW is directly related to the quality of what we wear as protection.

Someplace in the budget or toolkit there must be a downhaul tool. You need it to properly rig the much larger sail(s) you will buy.

Someplace in the 8-15 mph range there is a wind speed where, with your largest new sail and your widest new board, you will start planing. If the wind you sail in is most often less than that wind speed, you might be most satisfied buying a large volume longboard, new or used. TOW is one issue. Planing versus cruising versus schlogging is an equally important issue. With your weight and a 180 ltr longboard for comparison I think you would notice a significant improvement in cruising speed and also in planing time with a longboard volume at or above 220 (you want more than 220). The dream boards in that case would be a Phantom 380, Phantom 320, or a Mistral Equipe.

2nd February 2010 06:03 AM

carvesalot

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_windsurfer

you buy your first board like a car - go back many times - touch it , smell it , feel it :-)

just my 2 "sense"

are you talkin' about a board or sex ?

1st February 2010 10:00 PM

mike

I say the following only to ensure you've condsidered all options. As I'm not a heavy weight, my comment above re formula is based on observation, not personal experience. I've seen poeple shlogging when they could have been planning. I would definitely say no to the full on formula due to price & the fragile nature of the boards. Though I understand the formula EXPERIENCE is cheaper & stronger. Depending on your current skill level, I expect that the futura & GO would be easier to develop your skills on due to the option to have more inboard footstraps ie. if you are not currently planning in footstraps, these boards will be easier to learn on. Having said all the above, I would have to defer to another heavy weight & the ability of a Future or GO to consistently plane & go fast in 11-12 knots.

BTW you comment about the size of the boards - all these new boards are very wide & therefore stable when moving slow vs older long but narrow boards.

Regarding on-line: I've done both. I've always tried to first go local though it seems on average to cost more. If the local dealer can't come close in price, I go on-line. Some online give good customer service and have been around for perhaps as long as local. I've been lucky & have had few problems. Make sure you fullyinspect any gear before accepting it from the courrier.

1st February 2010 05:28 PM

joe_windsurfer

why are you buying on-line?

my friend had bad experience buying on-line - no support after for issues

for first buy don't you want local shop support and recommendations ??

you buy your first board like a car - go back many times - touch it , smell it , feel it :-)

just my 2 "sense"

1st February 2010 09:17 AM

Unregistered

Thanks

Thanks for all your good advice above. I'm feeling better about spending my money. I've really only had interaction with people trying sell me gear from their shop so it good to hear from real people who have been in my position or have advice on it. I'm leaning toward the short floaty type of board like a Go or Futura 155. Remember I'm kind of heavy at 110kg so this seems small to me. I really just want to go fast, I like the comment above about the difference between planning and what going fast is. I've had a few people mention the Longboards like Kona One because you can use it any conditions. Is there any pitfalls I should stay away from when buying gear online? Thanks Again for the help.

1st February 2010 03:50 AM

joe_windsurfer

is it recommended for someone to go from 15 year old longboard to formula ?

i had read in some forums, people suggest floaty shortboard first , non ?

1st February 2010 03:49 AM

carvesalot

the OP has a problem spending the money, so far , no debate of which board or sail

but perhaps... a further question

once he makes up his mind

31st January 2010 09:46 PM

mike

The original poster said he is 110 kg, sails 8-15 knots in a lake and has an old long board with centerboard. Going used or older unused is a good idea, but perhaps a further question is what kind of sailing he is after. If it's 8-15 knots, this may mean an average of 11-12 knots with gusts to 15? If this is true and if his objective is planning, then he's looking at formula with 10m sail.

30th January 2010 08:49 PM

agrelon

Definitely what I've learnt from experience is that windsurfing is one of those sports where you "grow out" equipment as you progress. ie. I year ago I thought a 130l board wasn't going to be buoyant enough for me and now I'm considering an 86l board.

Conclusion: Buy second hand until you reach a point where you're really gonna enjoy the new kit right off the bat.

Great thing with second hand material too is that you have a lot less stress. If you scratch it here or there it doesn't really matter.

On the contrary, if you get a Futura (say 133 or 144) now, when you progress you can keep that as your light wind board and get a smaller one for stronger wind.

It is your money but definitely have a look around for second hand kit, you can find some really good stuff if you know where to look.

30th January 2010 08:46 PM

joe_windsurfer

hello:

was in same boat as you - using a BIC Dufour Wing and later BIC Samba
both were great lake boards and actually used a 7.0 cammed sail :-)
enjoyed cruisin, blasting, trying to take kids etc

am also now 110kg - was about 120 kg 2 years - still workin on this one :-(

it was either a new digital camera or a new board
cameras go down and boards are still going up
purchased a 160 liter / 79 cm wide board for about $1500 - was older model but new

for one year i used old sails to get the hang of it
it still worked on the lake due to large 53 cm race fin

last year i decided it was time to put a bigger newer sail on
the sail brand i use now only goes to 8.5 non-cammed, but that is fine
with this sail and practice i discovered the difference between going fast and planing - bought 2 year old model cheaper with mast, boom $1000
now the lake is not looked for, but used when we are there :-)
i.e. never looked back
for next year i already purchased carbon boom used and 10.0 race sail with mast used - again looking for more TOW and not lookin back

btw purchased a used Nikon D-70 for about $200 - all worked out :-)

so, yes, if you love w/s and can do it bit by bit, it will cost about $2500
am i sorry, NO
my wife now says i love windsurfing more than her :-)
since i am a teaser , i do not respond @ all when she says that :-)

love your wife, family and kids as much as possible and treat yourself :-)
sometimes wish i could get my family into it more, butt maybe windsurfing is like a secret cult - keep it to yourself or the beaches get too crowded :-)

hope it all works out for you bud
from what i understand about SB, go for the GO

joe windsurfer

btw looks like GO 144 or 155 will do the job
next fellow says go for used
my issue was finding used in the above 150 liter range
moral of the story = DON'T STRESS
can you borrow stuff from anyone ??

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